Spruced Up: A New Apothecary in Portland, Oregon

In 2005, when Craig Olson and Sean Igo opened Canoe in Portland, OR, their interiors and design shop proved well ahead of the curve and helped put Portland on the design map. The pair recently added another retail outpost to their empire: Spruce Apothecary, which takes the same idea of well-made, enduring goods and applies it to grooming products. As Olson says, "The concept for the shop was to combine some of the best contemporary brands like Malin+Goetz and REN with classic European heritage products. We also have some oddball discovery items in the Canoe vein." Bonus points: the store interior is just as good as the products they feature. For more, go to Spruce Apothecary .
Photography by Josh Partee .
Above: The wood-clad exterior of Spruce Apothecary, located in Portland's newly developed Union Way.
Above: According to Olson, "The interior of the shop was intended to be simple and calm with an exposed block wall painted a green/black color and contrasting bright white steel shelving, with some bits of tarnished brass."
Above: Olson, who once lived in Germany, says the apothecary shops there were a source of inspiration.
Above: Men's grooming products on display.
Above: "We’re working on a fragrance line with a local perfumer and will be developing a bath product line as well," Olson says.
Above: The black brick wall is partially covered in oiled cedar slats, adding texture to the space.
Above: Bright white steel shelving is used for displaying goods.
Above: Conveniently sandwiched between two Portland mainstays: Powell Books and the Ace Hotel, Union Way is a skylit covered passage between two adjoining buildings, with Spruce Apothecary being one of several local stores to recently open there.
For more on Craig Olson and Sean Igo, see Steal This Look: Canoe in Portland and check out their renovation of a home in Scottsdale, Arizona: Northwest Heads Southwest .
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